NATSO Joins Stakeholder Group in Pushing for Long-Term Highway Bill

NATSO joined nearly 70 organizations representing a broad cross section of the U.S. economy in urging Congress to pass a six-year reauthorization of the federal highway program in 2015 that increases investments in highway and public transportation improvements.

The organizations said in a letter to members of Congress that temporary program extensions and eight years of recurring Highway Trust Fund revenue crises do not provide a path to future economic growth, jobs and increased competitiveness. The organizations urged Congress to “end this cycle of uncertainty.”

“The U.S. economy and all Americans require a surface transportation infrastructure network that can keep pace with growing demands,” the organizations wrote. “A six-year federal commitment to prioritize and invest in our aging infrastructure and safety needs is essential to achieve this goal.”

The letter was issued just days after the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee delayed the widely anticipated release of its long-term highway bill so that lawmakers could work out several major policy differences.

The Senate passed a multi-year surface transportation bill in July. It is now incumbent on the House of Representatives to keep the reauthorization process moving forward to ensure a six-year bill is enacted before the latest short-term program extension expires Oct. 29.

Signatories included the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers, AAA, the National Retail Federation, American Highway Users Alliance, and the American Trucking Associations, among others.

Tiffany Wlazlowski Neuman

Tiffany Wlazlowski Neuman develops and executes communications strategies to advance NATSO’s public relations and advocacy goals. Tiffany also develops and oversees partnerships related to the NATSO Foundation’s public outreach initiatives. Tiffany lives in the D.C. metro area with her husband and their two sons.More